Chapter 7.
The Mystery About to Be Revealed!
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"Ugh... That dream again..." Araki sighed softly.
He woke up to the sound of birds chirping outside his window.
Araki quickly made his bed. Once finished, he slowly walked toward the bathroom.
(Short Timeskip)
After washing up, Araki took a moment to gaze at his reflection in the mirror, letting out a long sigh.
"It's always the same..." He murmured before splashing water on his face.
(Short Timeskip)
"Mother, Father, I'm off." Araki said, glancing at the family photo before heading out.
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(Time skip.)
"Araki, have you seen Issei?" Matsuda asked.
"No." Araki replied, shaking his head slightly.
"Alright." Matsuda said before walking away, leaving Araki behind.
Suddenly, screams erupted from the girls behind Araki. Araki, Motohama, and Matsuda immediately rushed over to investigate.
"No way!" Matsuda exclaimed in disbelief.
"That traitor!" Motohama cried out, comical tears streaming down his face.
Araki shook his head slightly as he watched Issei and Rias walking together toward the Academy.
"Rias-senpai!!" One of the girls shouted.
"Impossible! Rias-senpai is walking with that pervert Hyoudou-kun?!" Another girl shrieked.
"Issei, I'll send someone to pick you and Araki up." Rias said with a smile before walking away, leaving Issei behind.
"O-okay, Rias-senpai." Issei stammered in response.
Rias ascended the stairs, leaving Issei standing frozen in place. Suddenly, Matsuda punched Issei hard in the face.
"Ow! That must have hurt!" Araki winced as he watched Issei fall after being punched by Matsuda.
"Damn you, Issei! How dare you betray the perverted trio alliance we forged!" Matsuda shouted, comically large tears streaming down his face.
"Enough, Matsuda. Calm down!" Motohama replied, gripping Matsuda's shoulders.
"Issei! You owe us both an explanation!" Motohama shouted at Issei.
Araki ignored Matsuda and Motohama's shouting and immediately walked over to Issei, who was sitting on the floor.
"Are you alright, Issei?" Araki asked, extending a hand to help him up.
Issei turned to Araki with a shocked expression before suddenly bursting into tears. Araki narrowed his eyes at Issei's strange reaction. Just as he suspected, Araki was suddenly taken aback when Issei abruptly hugged him.
"Issei! What are you doing?!" Araki tried to break free from Issei's embrace.
"Araki!! Thank you!!" Issei clung tightly to Araki's body.
"What are you talking about, Issei?" Araki asked, annoyed.
Issei slowly released his embrace and stared at Araki's face, confused.
"You don't remember, Araki?" Issei asked, seeking confirmation.
"I don't remember anything." Araki replied with a frustrated huff.
"You seriously don't remember what happened yesterday at the park?!" Issei shouted, his voice rising slightly.
"So it was real?!" Araki exclaimed, his face registering shock.
Issei cleared his throat, glancing around. Noticing this, Araki quickly wiped the sweat from his face. Issei slowly approached him and whispered something near his ear.
"Rias-senpai wants to meet us after school. Someone will pick us up later." Issei whispered near Araki's ear.
"I understand..." Araki replied, nodding slightly.
"Hey! Don't ignore us!" Motohama and Matsuda shouted.
Issei immediately turned to face Matsuda and Motohama, a wide grin spreading across his face.
"Oh, right. Have any of you three ever seen real breasts?" Issei asked, leering at Matsuda and Motohama.
Araki glared at Issei from behind his glasses, while Motohama and Matsuda wept even harder, tears streaming down their cheeks.
"You traitor!" They both shouted in unison.
"Hehhh... You guys..." Araki sighed softly, pinching the bridge of his nose as he watched his three friends' antics.
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Rias was walking up the stairs when she noticed a girl with short black hair and red glasses leaning against the wall not far from her.
"Good morning, Rias." The girl greeted with a faint smile.
"Good morning, Sona." Rias replied, returning the smile.
Rias walked over to Sona, who was smiling at her.
"It's not like you to bring someone into your family without thinking it through." Sona said, glancing at Araki and Issei, who were arguing with their two friends.
"Is that so?" Rias replied, now looking down at Issei and Araki from above.
"Yeah, I've got more two foolish servants to take care of now." Rias continued, smiling sweetly at Sona.
Sona gazed at Rias's face in confusion before slowly shifting her gaze to Araki, who was standing nearby, watching Issei and his two friends bickering.
"I see..." Sona murmured softly.
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(Time skip.)
"Issei, you said someone would be picking us up, right?" Araki asked, standing in front of Issei's desk.
"You're right, Araki. They should be here any minute now." Issei replied lazily.
"Alright." Araki said, returning to his desk to pack up his things.
"Ahh!!" The girls suddenly screamed.
"Huh?" Araki was startled and instinctively turned toward the classroom door.
"Hi." A blond-haired young man greeted them both.
"Tch... Handsome prince? Get lost!" Issei grumbled irritably.
The blond-haired guy smiled warmly as he approached Araki's desk.
"Hello, nice to meet you." He said amiably when he reached the desk.
Araki immediately stood up from his chair and walked toward him.
"Hello, nice to meet you. My name is Kazuma Araki. It's a pleasure to meet you." Araki said with a wide smile, extending his hand.
"Hello, Araki. My name is Yuuto Kiba." Kiba replied warmly, accepting Araki's handshake.
"Waaahhh!! The Handsome Prince and the Mysterious Prince are shaking hands!! I love this so much!" One of the girls shrieked, her face flushed crimson.
"Don't tell me they're..." One of the girls began before the entire group suddenly erupted into screams.
Hearing the girls' screams, Araki began to sweat profusely, forcing a wry smile as he glanced at Kiba. Kiba and Araki immediately broke their handshake and hurried toward Issei's desk.
"What do you want?" Issei asked dismissively.
"I'm here representing Rias-senpai to pick you two up." Kiba said, smiling as he looked alternately at Issei and Araki.
"So you're the one..." Issei said quickly, spontaneously standing up from his chair.
"Could you both come with me?" Kiba asked, his gaze shifting between Issei and Araki.
"Of course." Araki replied with a smile.
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(Time skip.)
"Wh-what kind of room is this?" Issei asked Kiba, bewildered.
Araki looked around the room and noticed only a small, white-haired girl sitting in a red sofa in the center of the room.
"Th-that girl..." Issei stammered, pointing at the seated girl.
"Oh, that's Koneko Toujou. She's a first-year student." Kiba said, gesturing toward Koneko.
"Koneko-chan, this is Issei Hyoudou." Kiba said, pointing to Issei beside him.
"And—" Kiba's introduction was cut off by Araki.
"Thank you, Kiba. I'll introduce myself." Araki interjected with a smile.
"Alright, Araki-kun." Kiba replied, smiling at him.
Araki immediately walked over to Koneko, who glanced at him briefly with a blank expression.
"Hello, Koneko-chan. My name is Kazuma Araki. I hope we can be good friends." Araki said, extending his hand.
Koneko merely glanced at Araki, ignoring his outstretched hand. Araki chuckled slightly at her reaction, but he soon noticed she was eating a chocolate bar.
"You like chocolate, Koneko-chan? I happen to have some because my friend gave me before coming here. I hope you'll accept it." Araki said, pulling a chocolate bar from his bag.
Koneko's eyes widened instantly when she saw the chocolate in Araki's hand. She slowly took the chocolate from him and started to eat it.
"Thank you, Araki-senpai." Koneko said flatly.
"You're welcome, Koneko-chan." Araki replied with a wide smile, gazing at her.
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